Greetings, Mgunnels3 here, and welcome back to A Promise Kept Ash's Johto Journey. Before we begin, I do want to address a few things. One is the whole thing with Kangaskhan. I know I will be getting the same question: Is she going to replace Bulbasaur's role in the anime? The answer is yes, she is. If you read her Pokedex entry, they aren't particularly keen on battling but more support, which is what her role is than being used in battle. Second I mentioned this before, but I want to see more reviews. I've been saying this often but have not seen many old readers since I took my hiatus in both stories. But the rest is for those who last read chapter nine. It has ended since October/November last year for those not reading both stories. I request that those who aren't reading my Unova story please give it a chance as neither story intertwines nor plans on it. With that said, let's get this chapter going, shall we?
Chapter 26: Rivals
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
We joined our heroes as they enjoyed lunch as many of the other Pokemon Ash and the others had been resting, eating, or in Murkrow and Pidgeot's care training. Little did Pidgeot know it, but someone was watching her silver-colored in the trees.
Pidgeot and Murkrow showed that both were evenly matched in strength, though if it were more than that, Pidgeot would admit that Murkrow had that advantage.
"Alright, Murkrow, we can rest for now. You earned it," Pidgeot said to Murkrow, who nodded at this, exhausted from the speed she had put into keeping up with Pidgeot as she went to get some food. Charizard walked over to Pidgeot.
"I must say, Pidgeot, even though you still haven't agreed to teach her, you sure are doing that now? Are you having second thoughts?" Charizard questioned Pidgeot, who sighed upon hearing Charizard saying that and knew he was right. Pidgeot looked at Murkrow and sighed.
"I will admit she has grown on me, Charizard. Murkrow has matured since we met and has kept her end of the bargain. Maybe, I should ask her how she knows my father and why she wanted to be my apprentice. Since I haven't even thought of having one," Pidgeot said to Charizard, who crossed his claws upon her saying that.
"She might run her beak when it comes to her bragging, but she does know how to back what she says up with her attacks. I'm surprised that she could hold her own during your practice battles with her lately," Charizard says, to which Pidgeot nods in agreement.
"No argument there, Charizard. It's not every day someone other than you, or Fearow would hold their own in battle against me during training like that. She's well-trained. Before we even met Murkrow, she was strong, and it's not under me, but to take her under my wing? I don't know?" Pidgeot said, looking down as Charizard sighed at this.
"I've already taken Houndoom and Cyndaquil in as my young apprentices more than I can ask for, but even with my training, they won't be at my level but will be close enough to hold on their own in the coming battles. Knowing that I might one day return to the Charizific Valley after this is all said and done and knowing you, it might be the same with you and the flock back in Kanto, so why not? I don't think teaching and taking her under your wing won't hurt?" Charizard said to Pidgeot, who thought about this and nodded as Charizard was right about the latter.
"I think you are right, Charizard; we won't stay with Ash long after this Journey through Johto is made. But we can train them for the long haul one day," Pidgeot said, turning to Charizard. "And it's not like we aren't done with this Journey anyway, so let's not think about that right now and focus on the present," Pidgeot said before taking off to the sky. "Unless you want to see how strong I have grown since I joined the team, and I would like to see how a Champion's Pokemon son would fair to both a flock leader/gym leader's Pokemon daughter," Pidgeot offered a friendly sparing match to Charizard, who chuckled but shook his head.
"Little later, Pidgeot, I just got done training the younglings, so I'll train with you later on, and you don't need to treat me like that. I can tell who will win in that department," Charizard said before taking a nap as Pidgeot sighed. "Also, I think you should rest, not to over-stress yourself," Charizard said as he took his usual nap Pidgeot sighed upon seeing this and shook her head to think that he was the man she was starting a relationship with.
"You haven't changed Charizard so much for wanting to get better?" Pidgeot thought Charizard had a point; she was somewhat tired from her practice battle against Murkrow earlier.
Pidgeot perched herself on a nearby tree, thinking about what Charizard had said about them going their ways after this. Pidgeot knew that once she was stronger that way, the two flocks would merge and move to Oak's ranch for safety reasons, but she couldn't shake the fact that there was more to this adventure than just her traveling with Ash. Pidgeot was in deep thought, and something knocked her out of the branch she was sitting on, sending her to the ground hard. She could hear faint laughter in the background that wasn't Murkrow's. She could recognize her laughter even if she wanted to. No, someone was targeting her. Pidgeot could barely hear Ash talking to her.
"Pidgeot, are you okay? Come on, wake up?" Ash said faintly as Pidgeot woke up, shaking her head from what hit her, which made both Charizard and Murkrow happy that she was okay after the fact that she fell to the ground from that high in the trees.
"Ugh did someone catch the Snorlax that hit me," Pidgeot noted as she saw Murkrow, and everyone was worried about her. The group heard another laughter nearby in the trees.
"So much for the infamous flock leader if she couldn't keep her senses keen on her surroundings. Some flock leader, you are there, Pidgeot," A voice in the forest said as Ash and the others looked around.
"Show yourself whoever you are?" Ash yelled out, only to see a silver-like bird perched where Pidgeot was sitting. Ash scanned it, and it was a Steel-type Pokemon called Skarmory, who burst into laughter. From her looks, she was young and a bit younger than Pidgeot, given her size.
"Oh, is the human that owns her wants a go at me? I must say I'm impressed that you are willing to fight me, but given my family's history with you particular human, I'm impressed," Skarmory said to Ash. Judging by how Skarmory talked, it was female and had a mouth like Murkrow but more arrogant, but Ash was surprised that Skarmory knew who Ash was.
"What are you talking about? This is the first time we have met. Well, I'll get to the bottom of this later," Ash remained calm as Skarmory noticed this but also noticed that he had that look of determination as Murkrow stood in front of Ash, wanting to fight for Pidgeot. "Murkrow, you going to be okay fighting?" Ash asked Murkrow, who looked at Ash with an " I know what I am doing " look on her face.
"Oh, I see the young apprentice wants to battle; okay, you got it," Skarmory said, looking at her wing in displeasure like she was bored as Skarmory took to the sky, as did Murkrow. Pidgeot, on the other hand, looked at Skarmory and could swear that she reminded her of Fearow.
"Okay, Murkrow use Shadow ball," Ash commanded Murkrow, who fired a Shadow ball at Skarmory, who used Steel Wing, barely taking a hit but enough to show some damage. "Counter with your Steel Wing as well, Murkrow," Ash said as the two Flying-types clashed in the air one after the other. Only for Skarmory to get the upper hand slamming her wing into Murkrow hard as Skarmory's beak spirals as it was using a Drill peck attack, sending Murkrow to Ash's arms as Skarmory laughed at this.
"If that is the best you got, you don't deserve to call yourself an apprentice, not with that much power tootles, human; maybe bring someone stronger to battle against me," Skarmory said before taking off.
Ash was tending to Murkrow as it was now Pidgeot's turn to worry about her, as she could hear Murkrow faintly say.
"I'm sorry, Father," Murkrow said as Pidgoet was stunned. This was the first time she had heard about Murkrow's family as Murkrow came to.
"Easy, girl, you are in no shape to battle against Skarmory like that, pride or not," Ash said to Murkrow, who sighed and nodded.
"I may be stubborn, but I know when I am beaten," Murkrow told Ash.
"A good lesson for even the most stubborn of Pokemon. So what's this about your father, I hear?" Pidgeot said to Murkrow but not in a harsh tone but more concerned. That shocked Murkrow as she must've said that when she passed out, Murkrow looked at Pidgeot and sighed.
"It's the reason," Murkrow told Pidgeot, who was now curious, Charizard, and everyone listening on Ash's team. "It's the reason why I wanted to train under you? As your father did for mine when his original trainer owned him," Murkrow said to Pidgeot, who was surprised and looked down. She knew that her father was known for being a respectable Flying-type, but Murkrow's father's teacher she didn't expect.
"You mean that Pidgeot's father trained yours when he was younger?" Ash said that as Murkrow nodded at this now, Pidgeot was more taken aback and wished she had asked this sooner.
"I was told by my father and mother that both are on his team, that he had a daughter, and when yours was mentioned, I knew I found you. He told me how much he had learned from your father, and all that was not enough to teach me. That is why I asked you. Hoping that you may have known about that, but I respected your wishes that you didn't want to at the time we met," Murkrow said to Pidgeot, who sighed and turned to where Skarmory went.
"Pidgeot, you noticed too that Skarmory's battle technics are more advanced than what her age show known," Charizard said as Pidgeot nodded. Ash was curious about what Charizard meant as Pidgeot remembered her words about Ash and Skarmory's family, knowing what her family was, and turned to Ash.
"Ash, let's handle this. Speaking of family teachings, I think Skarmory might be related to Fearow. It's the only thing that makes sense that she targeted me and said that to you?" Pidgeot said to Ash, who now was grasping what Skarmory was saying about their history, and nodded at this.
"Yes, let's do this, Pidgeot," Ash said to Pidgeot, who took off to where Skarmory went. Skarmory was tending to her wing as much as she hated to admit it, but Murkrow's attacks did have a bite to them, but she was more self-absorbed to admit it. "Skarmory," Ash said as both Pidgeot and Ash ran toward where she was.
"Well, well, back for more, are we? I must admit you are more stubborn than me when it comes to Pokemon," Skarmory said, flying to the ground. Ash knew he had to watch what he said, and Skarmory might not know the truce between Fearow, Ash, and Pidgeot's Flock.
"Look, I don't know if you heard about it, but the issue between Fearow's flock, Pidgeot's flock, and me has ended peacefully, so there is no need for more bad blood between us," Ash said to Skarmory, who laughed at this which confused Ash and made Pidgeot stand her ground and wonder why she would be laughing at a time like this.
"You think that I am doing this for the flock to get back at you both, hah," Skarmory laughed at that thought as she looked at the two and was ready to reveal the truth of who she was.
"Wait, you're not with the flock? Skarmory or has issues with us?" Ash asked Skarmory, who nodded
"Let me explain this to you two. Who said I am following my Uncle's little spat with you?" Skarmory said Ash and Pidgeot were shocked upon hearing that she was his niece as Skarmory continued as she walked towards the two. "I heard from other Spearow flocks that you two were here in Johto, and from what my Uncle described growing up, I knew that I found you two, so I decided to test Ms. Flock's leader here with my attack earlier," Skarmory explained as Ash and Pidgeot was surprised by this.
"That's right, you two, you think I targeted Pidgeot because I wanted to get back at you for what happened with my Uncle, well surprise, I'm actually after to see what type of flock leader she was, nothing else," Skarmory said as what Ash said about her Uncle's flock and Pidgeot's flock caught her attention though. "If you say you have made peace with him, show it in battle, human? My Uncle always spoiled me by training me and giving me what I wanted a strong challenge."
"Bring it. You want to see how strong I am and why I have beaten your Unlce in battle not once but twice. You got it. We are ready for you," Pidgeot said to Skarmory as Ash hoped to end this without battling, but it seemed like that won't be the case as the two flying types got into position, raring to battle. Skarmory took to the sky, as did Pidgeot. Skarmory used a swift attack on Pidgeot.
"Fight back with Razor wind Pidgeot,' Ash commanded Pidgeot, who launched a flurry of sharp wind at the swift attacks. "Now, Quick attack Pidgeot and Steel wing," Ash commanded Pidgeot, who charged in with both attacks only to hit a clone as Skarmory used a double team, as Skarmory used Drill Peck.
"Pidgeot uses agility to dodge," Ash said as Pidgeot dodged quickly as Pidgeot used a Wing attack on Skarmory, doing a good chunk of damage to her. Pidgeot was impressing Skarmory. No, not just Pidgeot but Ash. She wanted this type of trainer, a strong one who could go toe-to-toe with her and challenge her, as Skamory used Sandstorm. Ash was surprised to find out about this Ash looked up any move Pidgeot knew or a way to counter this as he noticed the move that Falkner had used in their gym battle was in Pidgeot's move pull.
"Use Twister to try to fight back," Ash commanded Pidgeot, who used said move as it did mix with the Sandstorm and hit Skarmory hard. As Skarmory was sent to the ground hard. Skarmory turned to Ash and nodded at him, showing that he was worthy of capturing her as Ash tossed a Pokeball at her catching her instantly. Ash let Skarmory out to get her healed.
"Not bad human, and you too, Pidgeot; maybe you'll be enough to be my rival more than a teacher for me," Skarmory said to Pidgeot, who gave her a severe look on her face. "But alas, we are teammates, so I can try to get along, but only rivals when we are training, agreed on Pidgeot," Skarmory said to Pidgeot, who nodded.
"Just remember that I am in charge between the three main flyers here and the oldest between us by a year, Skarmory. Remember that whenever your Uncle's flock merges with mine," Pidgeot said to Skarmory, who humphs at that first part but nods at the last part.
"You only older than me by six months, Pidgeot, not a year, as I will be your age 10 when in a couple of months," Skarmory said to Pidgeot, who was surprised that Skarmory was that much closer to her age as Skarmory turned to Ash
"You want me to listen to you and get along with everyone, not just for my Uncle's flock sake, Pidgeot's Ash? Give me good battles, and you won't have trouble with me, Ash, agree?" Skamory said to Ash, who finished healing her up.
"Deal, but you two, please get along on this team. In exchange, whenever you aren't on the team, I'll allow you to visit your Uncle's flock until I need you for a battle or a tournament deal?" Ash said to Skarmory, who nodded at this, as did Pidgeot.
"Deal, Ash, and that's fair, and in exchange, I'll try to be a friend to you, Pidgeot, for our flock's sake, given that I am a member whenever I visit there growing up," Skarmory said, which Pidgeot can agree to that.
Murkrow was impressed but hurt that she had a chance to prove herself to Pidgeot and failed, which both Skarmory and Pidgeot noticed.
"Don't be sad, Murkrow. With a little more training under my wing, you'll get better," Pidgeot said Murkrow, whose eyes widened by this. "If you keep your promise to me about cooling the bragging. I might make you my second in command when we return to Kanto, not just my apprentice," Pidgeot said to Murkrow, who nodded at this as Pidgeot continued.
"Until then, learn as much as you can. I'm not going to give you another chance if you break my trust, agree, and no more trying to fight for my honor, especially in a fight like that," Pidgeot finished as Murkrow nodded at this and smiled as they did Skarmory as much as she hated to admit it. But Murkrow is a quick study and strong, with or without teachings. She doesn't know it yet.
With a new teammate on Ash's team added, the Journey towards Ecruteak City is only improving as the Journey continues.
Stay Tuned.
Done and Done This chapter was fun to write. Yes, Skarmory is Fearow's niece. If Pidgeot will get a Rival to join the team, why not tie it to her past? And it is possible as that is how Skarmory can learn Drill Peck for those who need to be made aware. Usameer16 requested Skarmory, and I felt Skarmory was also a good fit for Ash's team. Some of the reviews will say that Pidgeot's father is a stretch but remember, this is fanfiction, and I wanted to tie it with Murkrow in this story, as noted. With that said, the Psychic Sidekicks episode is next, and after that, the grass-type tournament will be five to six chapters long, and then it's to Ecruteak City for four chapters. See you all next time.